The Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, Christopher Musa, says troops have killed top commanders in the camp of Bello Turji, a notorious bandit kingpin in Zamfara state.
General Musa made this disclosure while speaking at the closing ceremony of the CDS joint task force commander conference in Abuja on Friday.
He identified the bandit commanders killed during operations as Kachalla Gwammade and Kachalla Shehu.
According to him, the terrorists were killed on Thursday night, adding that military actions in Zamfara have thrown Turji into a desperate scramble for escape.
“In a follow-up operation, troops advanced into Tufan and Mashima villages, further dislodging armed groups and pushing them deeper into the forest.
“In a symbolic strike against banditry, the security forces also returned to the once-cleared area of Bello Turji. The remaining portions of his camp, previously targeted in past offensives, were obliterated in a final suit to erase his presence from the region.
“Reports indicate that both Turji and Sani Black are now in this area desperately seeking escape routes as the pressure mounts,” the CDS said.
The defence chief reiterated that the security forces had sent a strong message to all armed groups in the country that the era of impunity is over.
General Musa reaffirmed that the military would sustain its momentum until all terrorist factions are neutralised.
